The Israelites are traveling in a desert. When considered with Ex 16:1 which locates the Desert of Sin between Elim and Sinai, sources suggest that Elim was a place with abundant water. They are in a space in between abundance, in the desert, moving in a
direction, but one which does not provide enough water for them or their livestock.

The locations of these activities are important for providing an opportunity for growth. If we can link Ex 16:1 and these verses, then they have just had a time of plenty, including abundant water. They are in a transitional time, moving through the desert and perhaps significantly, early in their journey. If only a few months have passed since leaving Egypt, they have not had the time to experience God’s provision through years of wandering. The Israelites were known for grumbling, but perhaps they grumble more quickly here due to the proximity to abundance both in Egypt and in Elim.

Moses sees the Lord’s provision, perhaps remembering that they are being led by a cloud by day and pillar of flame by night and also being provided with manna and quail. But the people were thirsty. With thirst, focus is directed to gaining that quenching drink. Moses brings this to the Lord, also expressing his fears – “They are almost ready to stone me.” God meets the need of the people, but also Moses’ needs. When striking the rock, it seems that the people were not present, but the “elders of Israel.” God could have made Moses do this in front of the crowds, but perhaps he was so gracious to meet Moses’ fears of the crowds all the while meeting the needs of those same crowds.

Moses named that place testing (Massah) and quarreling (Meribah). We might get what we want from God, but sometimes our attitude is remembered in ways we might not expect. We are reading thousands of years later about their testing of God and
quarreling with Him. How might we be remembered for our attitudes and expectations of God and His leaders?

The Israelites at this point had been following a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. They had been given manna and quail for food. Yet they didn’t seem to trust God to provide water. Perhaps they had seen God meet their needs and thus expected God to provide this too. My understanding of the attitudes of this time period is that blessing is both physical and spiritual. God not providing water was perhaps a sign that they were not being blessed in their minds. They expected God to reward their obedience of leaving Egypt with provision – maybe in their minds, God was not living up to His end of the bargain. How do our expectations of God impact our experiences?

Note that Moses named the place at which the rock gave water. Places have a memory in their names. What might you discover by looking into the history of why some of the places near you are called what they are called?

It is important to note that the rock did not travel with the Israelites. This access to water stopped the progress toward the promised land as long as they stayed at that place and drank from that water. How might our choices or requests of God be hindering our progress in the name of providing for our needs

Where I live in Florida, the most biodiverse estuary in the United States is suffering. The Indian River lagoon is a 250km+ long and a few kilometers wide, shallow body of water that is in-between salt and freshwater. Manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, horseshoe
crabs, and 4000+ other creatures live out their lives. Access to water is a problem for these creatures – not lack of it, but too much of it. Development is turning marshland into pavement. Rainwater which used to soak into the ground now runs directly into the lagoon, bringing with it all the pollutants that derive from that development. Algae then grow in the water fueled by excess nutrients, clouding the water and preventing sunlight from reaching the bottom. Seagrass dies and with it manatees starve, their food kept from growing from lack of sunlight. Like the Israelites, water is preventing flourishing.

Action points –  a few bullet points about actions a person can take

 Plan a trip to the coast, maybe your next holiday. Spend some time connecting
with God through walks or swims along a coast near you. Enjoy and notice the
water.
 While at the coast or in a nearby park (all rivers lead to the sea), spend 30
minutes picking up plastic pollution. Bring along A Rocha’s Reflection for a Beach
Cleanup resource or use their Bible study on plastic pollution to connect this to
your faith – https://arocha.org/plastics-toolbox
 Watch a documentary on the ocean to learn more and be amazed by God’s
watery creation – try Ocean with David Attenborough.